The Best Car Seat For All Stages 2019

When you’re a new parent safety is your number one priority when it comes to finding the best car seat for your little one. We have put together the best car seats for every stage of your child’s growth.

Car Seat Safety

When you first find out that you are having a baby, right away you want to make sure you get the best and safest baby items. Knowing how to properly use and install a car seat is one of the most important things you need to know before your baby arrives.

How To Install An Infant Car Seat

When you’re a new parent installing a car seat can be intimidating. I highly recommend to try it and get comfortable with it before your baby arrives. After you see where the seat belt goes and have the seat at the right angle, it will come very easy to you.

Most car seats come with an angle indicator so you know if the car seat is reclined enough. If the seat is up right too much it can cut off the baby’s airway and cause suffocation. If your baby needs more head support, you can roll up a towel or small blanket and put it around the head support insert of the chair.

/>

How To Install A Convertible Car Seat

Installing a convertible car seat is a lot like an infant seat. You can use either the LATCH technique, where you hook the latch that is on the chair, or you can use the car’s seat belt. If you use the seat belt be sure you pull the belt as tight as you can and the make sure the belt is locked.

Move the car seat to see if it is tight or loose. The seat shouldn’t move more than 1 inch. If you are using a convertible car seat for an infant under 6 months, make sure it’s reclined no more than a 45 degree angle.

How To Buckle An Infant and Toddler In A Car Seat

Buckling a child into the car seat is one of the most common things that parents tend to make a mistake on. So, these tips will ensure your child’s safety.

Make sure to take off any jacket or coat that your baby is wearing. If the coat is left on it makes too much room between the baby and the seat belt, and keeps from your baby to be tightly strapped in. Put a coat or blanket over the harness of the car seat to keep your child warm. Tuck it tightly for your younger baby so it doesn’t go over its face.

When you strap your child in, tighten the strap to where you are unable to pinch any material together.

Move the harness buckle aligning with their armpit. If it’s too high up or too low it will cause serious injuries to your child if there were to be an accident.

Again, make sure your baby isn’t inclined too much. Newborns can’t hold their head up and in car seats their heads tend to flop to the side. If you recline the seat to the position the products indicates, you will avoid cutting off their airway.

Please note: Post may contains affiliate links, see our disclosures for more information

Where To Place Seat In The Car

Never place a car seat in the front seat. It might seem like common sense, but some people don’t know it’s not okay. Back in the day it was “okay” but since they did studies and did more testings they found out that it wasn’t a smart idea.

It is ideal to place an infant seat in the middle of the back seat. However, if there isn’t a good spot in the middle, either side of the back seat is okay. If you have a third row vehicle place the car seat in the middle row.

When To Go From Rear-facing to Front-facing

New guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics states that two years is the best age to switch your child to front facing, or until they reach the height or weight limited according to the car seat manufacturer.

AAP said one year and 20 pounds is the minimum to switch your child to front facing. Even though front facing is so much easier and temping, rear facing is by far the safest for the child.

Injury Prevention did an article that Parenting cited, “Found that children under age two are 75 percent less likely to die or to be severely injured in a crash if they are rear-facing. Another study found riding rear-facing to be five times safer than forward-facing.”

Can You Use A Car Seat After An Accident

It is the best to not reuse a used car seat. If you know the person and the history of the car seat and you feel 100% comfortable than sure, you can.

Know the history of the car seat. Know if it was in a car crash. Although it might look like it wasn’t damage, the accident could have messed with the seat, and the damage might not be completely visible. To be safe avoid car seats that were used and were in car accidents.

Also did you know that car seats have expiration dates? Make sure you check those to make sure the materials of the car seat are still durable and safe. You can find it on the side or base of the car seat.

Where To Donate Car Seats

Now that you know that it’s best to not reuse car seats, you’re probably thinking how can I get rid of my car seat? There are programs out there that take old, expired, and used car seats and recycle them. Once a year Target does a car seat recycle program. You can bring in infant seats, convertible seats, booster seats, bases etc. They will give you a 20% off coupon for a new car seat, stroller, or selected baby gear. Check your nearest Target and see when their next event is.

Also you can google car seat recycling programs in your state. Here in Colorado they have a car seat recycling program, and they list where you can drop them off and what cities. Some places like fire stations will take them, call and do research first.

/>

Best Infant Car Seat

Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat

4.5/5

TheChicco Keyfit 30is one of the best infant car seat. It is parent friendly so, super easy to install, great for when you are in a hurry. This infant seat isn’t only safe but it is comfortable, so you and your baby can enjoy the car ride.

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite Infant Car Seat

4.7/5

The Graco SnugRide SnugLock Is a comfortable seat for your infant, and easy to install. This seat is budget friendly, and is a very safe seat. Has a thick removable padded body and head pillow to give your baby extra support. Has an easy read level indicator so there is no second guessing on the right position of the seat.

UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat

4.4 /5

The UPPAbaby Mesais the first car seat to pass the federal safety standard without fire retardant chemicals making this infant seat all naturally fire safe. Has a SMART secure system making it really easy to install, using an indicator that goes from red to green letting you know that the seat is at the right angle.

SMART secure system installation
Warning sign on back of seat blocking the breathable fabric causing some babies backs to be sweaty

Breathable Washable Fabric
Expensive

Chemical-Free Fire Retardant

Optimized For Preemies 4+lbs

Light Weight

Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base

4.8/5

TheDoona Infant Seat is a one of a kind car seat. What can make a parent’s life more easier than a car seat that is also a stroller!? Quick one motion transition. The handle is adjustable and is also used as a anti-rebound bar for the infant seat while in the car. The seat was designed alongside of medical and engineer experts to ensure it fits your baby and is comfortable with the ergonomic design.

Makes riding on a bus and train so much easier- stroller turns into a carrier

Best Toddler Car Seat

Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat

4.4/5

The Evenflo Harness Boosteris a comfortable booster seat for your toddler and old child. For kid 22 lbs to 110 lbs. One review mentioned that the booster didn’t move while in a rollover . Super safe seat for your toddler and older child.

Britax Frontier ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat

4.5/5

TheBritax Frontier Clicktighta great booster seat to transition your toddler to a big kid’s seat. The booster seat was well thought out for protection. They made the frame out of steel, an impact absorbing base, V-shaped tether to keep the chair from rotating during a crash, and two layers of protection padding. Has multiple reclining position for you child’s comfort.

Great for protecting your child Easy To Install
Harness difficult to tighten due to the back of booster seat pushing up against the seat

Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Convertible Car Seat

4.5/5

The Graco Tranzitionsis a 3 in 1 booster seat, transitions into a harness booster, high back booster, and a backless booster. This seat is so comfortable, your child will have no problem falling asleep and enjoying the car ride.

Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Seat

4.8/5

This Chicco MyFit booster seat is great for protection with their Duo Guard side impact protecting the head and torso. It comes with 4 reclining positions, 9 headrest position, and deep Ergo Booster with comfy padding.

Best Convertible Car Seat

Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

4.5/5

ThisGraco 4Ever Extend 2Fit is just what you need for your infant. It grows with your child. It is a 4 in 1 convertible seat with rear-facing infant position, to a harness toddler seat, to high back booster, to backless booster. It provides extra legroom allowing your child to be rear-facing longer.

Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

4.5/5

TheSafety 1st Grow and Go is one of the safest convertible seats that grows with your child. From rear-facing infant seat 5 lbs to big kid booster-100 lbs. They made the seat easy to clean so you can get all those goldfish and cheerios out. Has 2 reclining position for comfort and your infants safety.

Graco Milestone All-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

4.7/5

The Graco Milestone 3 in 1converts from rear-facing to belt-positioning booster seat. The harness and headrest adjusts together so it grows with your child and ensure your child will always be comfortable. The 5 point harness is extended to keep your kid in a harness long which is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Best Car Seat Stroller Combo

Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System

4.6/5

The Chicco Bravo Trio includes the stroller KeyFit 30 seat and base. Has multi-position reclining to ensure your child’s comfort. It is very easy to click in and remove the seat from the stroller. Easy one-hand collapse system for the stroller, making it easy for the busy parents.

Baby Trend Nexton Combo

4.5/ 5

The Baby Trend Nextoncomes with a Flex-Loc seat and base. This set is convenient for those on the go parents, that don’t have time for hassles. The stroller has three wheels which makes it easy to maneuver and have a smooth ride. The base also has 4 adjustable height for extra comfort.

Convenient storage under stroller
The removable headrest doesn’t keep head supported well- baby’s head falls forward. Need to fold blanket and put it around headrest.

Smooth ride

Car seat attaches super easy to stroller

One hand stroller closure system

Britax 2017 B Agile & B Safe 35 Travel System

4.5/5

The Britax B Agile is all about the safety. The infant seat has layers of impact protection, steel frame, and impact absorbing base. This set comes with a lightweight seat, and stroller, with a car seat adapter. This seat is FAA approved without the base, and you can use the adapter to securely attach the seat to the stroller.

We hope this is very helpful for you, and makes it easier to choose what the best car seat for your little one.

Remember if you aren’t sure how to install a seat or if you want it checked, you can ask a fire department, or a car seat technician at the hospital.

If you are wondering what other baby items you need whether you’re having twins or one baby, check out our life saving baby items. These are the only items I needed with all four of my boys, no wasting money on items you don’t really need.

Do you know someone that needs help looking for the best and safest car seat for their child please share this with your friends.

Join The Squad

Join the community that helps moms, encourages moms, and are moms. As a squad member you will have access to exclusive content, freebies, discounts and more.

You've successfully joined the squad!

About The Author

Gina and Maria are sisters and moms. Although they live different lives; Gina is a working mom living in the mountains with her husband and son. Maria is a SAHM living in the city with four boys and her husband-they are both moms who love their families more than anything. From changing dirty diapers all day to going on fun family vacations with nagging kids- they wouldn't change it for the world.
Come follow us on our FB page; Pinterest; Instagram